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Why is Dussehra Celebrated After Navratri?

© AFP 2023 SANJAY KANOJIAA priest paints an effigy of the Hindu demon king 'Ravana' ahead of the upcoming Hindu festival 'Dussehra' in Prayagraj on October 21, 2023.
A priest paints an effigy of the Hindu demon king 'Ravana' ahead of the upcoming Hindu festival 'Dussehra' in Prayagraj on October 21, 2023. - Sputnik India, 1920, 23.10.2023
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On October 24, Dussehra, also known as Vijaya Dashami or Durga Puja, is celebrated on the tenth day after the nine-day festival of Navratri.
The countdown for the highly anticipated Indian festival 'Dussehra' has begun, as devotees from around the globe come together to celebrate the Navratri festivities of worshipping nine divine incarnations of Goddess Durga for nine nights.
The festival of Dussehra, Durga Puja or Vijaya Dashami marks the celebration of the victory of good over evil.
It is celebrated with much fanfare in different manners across different regions of India.
While Dussehra is celebrated in North India, Vijaya Dashami is celebrated in South India and the Bengali community celebrate Durga Puja.

What is Dussehra?

Dussehra, comes from two words - 'dasha' meaning ten heads of Ravana and 'hara' meaning defeat.
The festival commemorates Lord Ram's glorious victory over the ten-headed demon king Ravana, who had kidnapped his wife, the goddess Sita, sparking an epic battle.
According to Indian mythology, each of Ravana's heads represented a different nature or emotion.
These include kama (sexual desire), bhaye (fear), moha (attachment), ahankar (ego), lobha (greed), jaddata (callousness), mada (pride), ghrina (hatred), krodha (anger) and irshya (envy).
On Dussehra, people not only celebrate the triumph of Lord Ram but also try to overcome every negative situation and emotion by virtue of their benevolent nature.
Durga Puja begins on the sixth day of Navratri, signifying the glorious victory of Goddess Durga over the formidable 'buffalo demon' Mahishasura, whose evil actions had brought the world into absolute chaos and destruction.

Why Dussehra is Celebrated After Navratri?

Dussehra is celebrated after the nine-day festival of Navratri because it has immense significance in Hindu mythology, signifying the glorious triumph of Lord Ram over the demon king Ravana of Lanka.
According to legend, Lord Ram prayed to Goddess Durga before going on a war to rescue Goddess Sita from the clutches of Ravana.
Devotees in North India and across the country commemorate Dussehra with great fervour as they symbolically ignite the embodiment of evil by burning effigies of Ravana along with his younger brother Kumbhakarana and powerful warrior son Meghanada.
The celebration is further enhanced by the explosive display of firecrackers, an awe-inspiring spectacle of the festival. Durga Puja, on the other hand, is symbolic of Goddess Durga's victory over the demon king Mahishasura.
The people of West Bengal and the Bengali community mark the grand finale of the festival before immersing the idol of Goddess Durga in water (visarjan ceremony) to bid her farewell.
Hindu festival Navratri - Sputnik India, 1920, 27.09.2023
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